THE EFFECTS OF FREQUENCY AND SEASON OF CLIPPING ON THE MORPHOLOGY, PRODUCTIVITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CALLUNA VULGARIS (L) HULL

Abstract

An experiment is described in which heather plants growing in boxes were clipped either in summer or in winter at different yearly frequencies. The effects of the treatments on morphology, productivity and chemical composition are described. The view is put forward that the vigour of growth is dependent on the physiological age of the plant and that this is determined by the distribution of the dry matter among the leaf and current seasons shoots, the older stems and wood, and roots. It is suggested that a grazing intensity where approximately 60% of the current season's shoot length is removed should be the best form of moor management. Copyright © 1966, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved